To The Cloud

Despite the high-flying superlatives at this year's Apple Developer's Conference, that the Cloud really, truly and amazingly does work, Google Music has been quietly rolling out their beta cloud storage locker. "Locker" is a good term to describe this cool service as it's a good place to park your library...at no charge (note that Apple plans to charge an annual fee for the same type of service).  As a producer or  music professional, don't get too excited about what Google Music or other lockers like MiMedia can do for you.  Here's the Good, Bad and the Ugly analysis after a week's worth of uploading and usage...

• GOOD:  Massive capacity with no known limit on storage capacity.  The only limitation appears to be the quantity of songs, topping off at 20,000 files.  Not bad.
• GOOD:  No charge for service (vs. $29.99 for Apple's proposed locker)
• GOOD:  No apparent data compression of audio.  The file you put up there in the cloud is the one you'll be playing back
• GOOD:  No Google Ads or banners to clutter up the service.  Works quickly and smoothly on wireless Android 3g and 4g devices (fast and smooth in WiFi mode, as you'd expect)
• BAD:  This is a one-way trip...upload only.  Once audio is uploaded, it cannot be downloaded, only deleted from Google's server.
• BAD:  You can listen ONLY...on a computer or device that has been linked to the service through Google's downloadable music manager, similar to iTunes service.  Here, though Google gives you a generous 20 or so devices per account.  
• BAD:  No links or apparent ways to share or embed files.  
• UGLY:  Make sure you're on an unlimited data plan because you will chew up bandwidth faster than a hungry man plows through a buffet.  

There really is no downside to Google Music:  It's fast, easy and fun (sorry, slipping into superlatives).  However, if you're looking for something more than a music locker, that's where the wheels come off.  Google Music is a lock-box that would make Al Gore sing hosannas!  You can't download, link or share files, rendering this practically useless for audio production.  If you're looking for something more robust for sharing material in the cloud, a good ol' fashioned ftp or Sound Cloud may offer better results.